Wednesday, May 22, 2013

I have seen cars with lemons on them and signs saying that they were lemons. And I have seen a car shaped like an Oscar Myer Hotdog. But this is the first time I have ever seen a car shaped like a Banana.

Scottsdale,
Ariz. – (April 9, 2013) – Barrett-Jackson, The World's Greatest
Collector Car Auctions™, announced today that it generated more than $21
million in gross sales of rare, high-end collectible vehicles, exotics,
customs, classics, hot rods and resto-mods, during its 11th Annual Palm
Beach auction, held April 4-6, 2013 at the South Florida Fairgrounds.

Despite
severe thunderstorms, more than 55,000 car fans were in attendance to
witness the comprehensive lineup of cars at the renowned auction and
lifestyle experience. It was clear from the cheers of the standing-room
only crowd and the final sales prices that the collector car market is
continuing at a steady incline and that Barrett-Jackson retains its
stronghold within the hobby.In fact, certain market
segment sales were on-par with those from pre-recession 2007.
Specifically, American muscle car sales were strong overall, as exampled
by Lot #713 Chevrolet Chevelle SS LS6 2-Door Coupe selling for
$148,500, Lot #713.1 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 2-Door Coupe selling for
$165,000 and Lot #739 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Custom 2 Door Coupe, which
was built by Hendrick Motorsports for country superstar Brad Paisley.
Several late European Sports Cars also crossed the block and did
exceptionally well. In an effort to attract new collectors to the hobby,
Barrett-Jackson also offered by design, an introductory auction on
Thursday, for those who still wanted to get a piece of the action with a
quality lineup of cars.

Top five individual sales at the 2013 Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction included:

•Lot #3004 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible – $1,000,000

•Lot #3006 2009 Ford F-150 King Ranch Super Crew Pickup – $350,000

•Lot #762 1968 Shelby GT500 Convertible – $330,000

•Lot #772 1970 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible – $275,000

•Lot #767 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 Convertible – $258,500

Unique
sales included the first production 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
Convertible (Lot #3004), which sold for $1 Million to Rick Hendrick, the
NASCAR team owner who also took home the first production coupe at
Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in January. Proceeds of the sale benefitted
the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute at Wayne State University in
Detroit, Michigan.

'We kicked off the
year strong in Scottsdale and are thrilled that our 11th year at Palm
Beach has kept that momentum going,' said Craig Jackson, Chairman and
CEO, Barrett-Jackson. 'We were able to offer a unique lineup of rare,
high-end automobiles that helped to bring out an enthusiastic crowd and
we are proud to see that the collector car hobby is going strong. We're
very pleased with the event's overall results.

'Adding to
the excitement was the attendance of several celebrities and VIPs, many
of who sold personal vehicles at Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach. Pop
sensation Rob Van Winkle, formerly known as 'Vanilla Ice', was seen
enjoying himself inside the auction tent, alongside actor James Marsden,
Charles Walsh, Partner in the Chicago Bulls and White Sox sports teams.
Ford Motor Company's Chief Operating Officer Mark Fields, American Le
Mans Series driver Ron Fellows and NHRA Top Fuel Champion Joe Amato also
enjoyed watching cars cross the auction block. In addition to selling a
car, Indianapolis Colts' wide receiver Reggie Wayne was seen actively
bidding with his family standing by his side.

In addition,
former General Motors' Vice President and current Chief Executive
Officer of Hendrick Automotive Group Jim Perkins enjoyed watching the
event, as did Wayne Huizenga Jr., businessman and former owner of the
Miami Dolphins, Florida Marlins, Florida Panthers and the current owner
of Rybovich Super Yacht Marina and Refit. Huizenga shared an emotional
moment with his wife Fonda on stage, as the couple sold Lot #768 1968
Shelby GT500 E Continuation Fastback for $148,500, which was a cherished
anniversary gift Fonda had given to her husband years earlier.

Barrett-Jackson
also helped raise more than $1.8 million for local and national
charitable organizations. Six charitable vehicles were sold during the
auction, including the 2009 Ford F-150 King Ranch Super Crew Pickup (Lot
#3006) once owned by former President George W. Bush. The truck sold
for $350,000, with proceeds benefitting the National Guard Youth
Foundation.

We're grateful for the opportunity
to help raise money for these wonderful charitable organizations and we
are so proud of the contributions by our sponsors, fans, bidders,
consignors and other supporters,' said Barrett-Jackson President, Steve
Davis. 'We're now looking ahead to our next auction, the inaugural Hot
August Nights Auction Presented by Barrett-Jackson and we couldn't be
more excited.

Consignments are now
available for Barrett-Jackson's upcoming Inaugural 2013 Reno Tahoe and
6th Annual Las Vegas events. For more information, please visit
http://www.barrett-jackson.com/consign/. For more information about
Barrett-Jackson or to purchase tickets, visit
http://www.barrett-jackson.com or call (480) 421-6694.

About The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company

Established
in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Barrett-Jackson
specializes in providing products and services to classic and collector
car owners, astute collectors and automotive enthusiasts around the
world. The company produces 'The World's Greatest Collector Car
Auctions™' in Scottsdale, Ariz., Palm Beach, Fla., Las Vegas, Nev. and
Reno Tahoe, Nev. Barrett-Jackson also endorses a one-of-a-kind collector
car insurance offering for collector vehicles and other valued
belongings. For more information about Barrett-Jackson, visit
http://www.barrett-jackson.com or call (480) 421-6694.

Duesenberg '20 Grand' To Be Featured Car At 2013 Palos Verdes ConcoursPalos Verdes Peninsula, April 23, 2013
-- The 'Featured Car' at the 2013 Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance on
September 15 will be this 1933 Duesenberg SJ Torpedo Sedan which wears a
California license plate reading '20 Grand', since that was the
original sales price of the car. Part of the Nethercutt Collection, it
was restored in 1979 and took top honors at Pebble Beach in 1980. It was
originally built for display at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair Century
of Progress Exhibition.The 21st Palos Verdes Concours at the
Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, will celebrate the 'Age
of Elegance' by showcasing some of the world's most luxurious classic
automobiles, according to Chairman Peter Kunoth.The
featured classes include Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Duesenberg and the
coachwork of Raymond Dietrich. The Concours will also recognize the
centennial of Aston Martin, the 60th anniversary of the Corvette, and
the 50th anniversary of the Loewy Avanti. Other
classes will showcase post-war luxury cars, and a full range of sports
cars. Preservation cars - automobiles that are in original and well
maintained condition - will be displayed alongside the restored cars.The
PV Concours will be preceded by a Pleasure Road Rallye on Saturday,
September 14, where drivers and passengers can take in the beauty of the
Palos Verdes Peninsula while competing for prize.
The PV Concours is a 501(c)(3) charity event with proceeds benefitting
the Palos Verdes Art Center's educational and community outreach
programs and Palos Verdes Rotary Foundation charities, including Harbor
Area Boys & Girls Clubs.

• Exceptional collection attracts bidders from 14 countries around the world

FORT WORTH, Texas (April 29, 2013)
– RM Auctions continued its strong track record in Texas this past
weekend with the record-breaking sale of the Don Davis Collection in
Fort Worth, Texas. Held onsite at Mr. Davis's estate, the single-day
auction of the esteemed 'collector's collection' saw 64 prized
automobiles sell for more than $21.2 million before a packed house.

The exceptional quality of the collection was reflected in the strong
global interest in the sale, with bidders hailing from 14 countries
around the world, including from as far away as Brazil, Australia, and
Kuwait. Top sale honors went to a rare, matching-numbers 1967 Ferrari
330 GTS. Representing the epitome of mid-sixties Italian GT styling, and
stunning in Blu Scuro, the example on offer attracted tremendous
interest from collectors, selling for an extraordinary $1,936,000, which
set a new world record for a Ferrari 330 GTS sold at auction.

Taking the number two spot was another dream car, the 1973 Ferrari 365
GTB/4 Daytona Spider, which garnered a remarkable $1,650,000. In total,
five lots achieved individual million-dollar-plus results, while
spirited bidding saw a number of automobiles well-exceed pre-sale
estimates, to set no less than eight new world records.

Record-shattering sales were led by the 1967 Toyota 2000GT, which
sparked an exciting bidding war, eventually selling for an amazing
$1,155,000, which far-exceeds the previous world record for a Toyota
2000GT sold at auction. Also entering the history books and setting new
auction records for their class were the highly sought-after 1988
Porsche 959 'Komfort', which sold for an outstanding $770,000; the 1965
Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Mulliner Park Ward Drophead Coupe for
$577,500; and the 1965 Lamborghini 350 GT Coupe for $550,000.
'We
were honored to have been entrusted to offer Don Davis's incredible
collection,' says Ian Kelleher, Car Specialist, RM Auctions. 'The
fantastic results reflect not only the truly exceptional quality of the
cars, but also the continued health of the collector car market and Mr.
Davis's reputation for collecting the best of the best. From the Toyota
2000GT to the Ferrari 330 GTS, this was certainly a record-setting sale
that we're very proud to add to our portfolio of private collection
auctions and to our strong track record in the Lone Star State.'RM Auctions' Don Davis Collection Million-Dollar-Plus SalesLot 132 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS $ 1,936,000 - Record for a Ferrari 330 GTS sold at auctionLot 148 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider $ 1,650,000Lot 142 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing $ 1,237,500Lot 149 1967 Toyota 2000GT $ 1,155,000 - Record for a Toyota 2000GT sold at auctionLot 112 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra $ 1,001,000The
Don Davis Collection sale is the latest on a list of highly successful
single-vendor auctions presented by RM Auctions, furthering the
company's reputation as the specialist for private and estate collection
sales.'The entire RM Auctions group was outstanding in
handling my auction,' said Don Davis following the sale. 'From start to
finish, every person handled each step of the process in an extremely
professional and friendly manner. The enhancements made to my warehouse
by the team completely transformed it to showcase the cars in the best
possible way. From the outset, I was told all I needed to worry about
was showing up on sale day. Because of the confidence I had in RM,
that's exactly what I did! My experience with the entire RM team was
absolutely stellar!'RM continues its busy 2013 auction
season with the return of its highly anticipated biennial sale held
during the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este weekend, May 25, on the
shores of Lake Como, Italy. This will be closely followed by RM's
established U.S. summer sales, including its annual sale in Plymouth,
Michigan, held in conjunction with the respected Concours d'Elegance of
America at St. John's, July 27, as well as RM's flagship Monterey,
California, sale, held during the same weekend as the prestigious Pebble
Beach Concours d'Elegance, August 16–17.

BLENHEIM, Ontario (April 30, 2013)
- RM Auctions, in association with Sotheby's, is delighted to announce a
new sale in New York City, November 21. The exclusive auction will
celebrate the motor car and its place in the history of design, focusing
on iconic styling and the artistry of combining automotive function
with exquisite form. Featuring approximately 35 handpicked automobiles
from around the world, the auction will be held at Sotheby's global
headquarters in New York and will represent the first time a major
collector car auction has been held in Manhattan in over a decade. With
an emphasis on bespoke design and 'best of category' examples from the
world's most admired automotive marques, the sale will feature one of
the most significant collections of motor cars offered in auction
history.As a prelude to the sale, an extraordinary
exhibition showcasing the vehicles on offer will be held November 19 -
20 on the 10th floor galleries at Sotheby's New York—a setting
customarily reserved for the display of world-class works of art offered
at Sotheby's.

'In recent years, collector cars have enjoyed phenomenal interest from
enthusiasts and experts who value their historic importance and rarity
alongside the achievements of their creators, coachbuilders, engineers
and designers, who must be counted amongst the world's great artistic
visionaries,' says Rob Myers, Chairman & Founder, RM Auctions. 'Our
upcoming New York sale will celebrate the historic importance of the
automobile—a singular achievement at the crossroads of art, technology
and innovation—at the same time paying tribute to the creativity,
styling and imagination of the world's leading coachbuilders. We are
delighted to be working with the team at Sotheby's for this exclusive
event. From the exhibition on their 10th floor galleries to the
incredible caliber of the consignments on offer, it will certainly be a
sale like no other.'

Maarten ten Holder, Sotheby's Managing Director, Americas, commented,
'We are thrilled that this autumn Sotheby's will host the first ever
automobile exhibition in our 10th floor galleries when 35 of the world's
finest and most important cars will be shown ahead of the RM sale on
November 21. As the first car auction in Manhattan for over 10 years and
one of the most significant ever held, this is set to be an
unprecedented and historic event.'

Leading early highlights for the sale is the stunning 1956 Aston Martin
DB 2/4 MkII 'Supersonic', chassis AM300/1/1132. A truly one-off
creation, '1132' received its bodywork from the renowned Ghia coachworks
of Turin, Italy. It is the only Supersonic built on an Aston Martin
chassis, was first displayed at the 1956 Turin Auto Salon and was driven
by American grand prix racing driver Harry Schell. The car's first
registered owners were newlywed New Yorkers Gail Whitney Vanderbilt and
her husband, the record-setting water skier Richard C. Cowell, who took
delivery directly from David Brown and were photographed with this car
by Life magazine whilst living in the South of France. It was then
acquired in the late 1950s by noted American collector Robert Lee and
benefits from known ownership history through the present day. Offered
for sale from the distinguished James Patterson Collection, it is the
recipient of a recent, thorough, no-expense-spared, Pebble Beach
award-winning restoration.
'A completely bespoke creation,
'1132' is unlike any other Aston Martin of its era,' adds Myers. 'From
the oval egg-crate grille and covered headlamps to the arrow-like spear
running along its sides, Supersonic tailfins and Jet Age tail lamps, it
is truly a masterpiece of the automotive designer's art and emblematic
of the most advanced postwar alloy coachwork. Considered alongside what
the automotive industry offered the public in 1956, this Aston Martin
was not only fast and exclusive, it was downright wild! It's pop art on
wheels!'The striking Aston Martin, which carries a
pre-sale estimate of $1,500,000 - $2,000,000, will be on display in
Sotheby's York Avenue lobby, New York, from today (April 30) through May
7.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

1936: Chevrolet Invents the SUV

In
1936, Chevrolet invented the SÚV – and the station wagon as well. In
this respect, the Suburban, the designated forefather of the Captiva,
was already a classic example of a crossover.

When
the roads were still dusty and cars were loud and slow, the railway was
the most popular means of transport for long distances, also in the
Únited States. The arriving passengers wîth their luggage then wanted to
continue
their journey in comfort, perhaps to one of the city suburbs.
Consequently, in the early days of the motor car, a species of vehicle
was developed to satisfy this need: An open, engine-driven carriage with
an additional platform for the luggage. People called them 'suburbans'.
A number of car makers used this generic name, and it was not until
1988 that General Motors protected the name 'Suburban' for its model.

The
origins of the station wagon were similar to those of the suburban. The
first models were built on a car chassis wîth a wooden rear section.
This created the extra space needed to accommodate several passengers
and their luggage when they were picked up from the station – consequently 'station wagon'.

In
autumn 1935, Chevrolet merged the two ideas, and in 1936, the ÚS market
leader brought out a spacious station wagon made of sheet metal, which
was based on a half-tonne delivery van. With the crossover Suburban it
was now possible for the first time to transport up to eight people
comfortably in an all-steel body. Priced at just $685, it launched the
triumphant career of a model that has continued to the present day.

Another
innovation that was also destined for worldwide fame came in 1938 with
the horizontally split tailgate. The original version wîth rear doors
continued to be built in parallel wîth this for several years, but the
customers' verdict was unmistakable: the first model of the Suburban
wîth a tailgate netted sales of 16,696 up to 1947 – interrupted by the
War – and proved far more popular than the rear-door version, of which
4,799 were sold.

In addition to the originally targeted taxi companies and hotels,
large families also soon recognized the utility value of the Suburban,
as did enthusiasts of all kinds of leisure activities. In contrast to
the cars of that time, they could now carry not only passengers but also
a whole stack of luggage. And they soon realized that the luggage space
could be made even larger by taking out one or two of the back seats.
This was an idea that only really spread to other vehicles wîth the
arrival of vans in 1980's.

It
was in 1957, the year that 4WD first became available as an optional
extra, that the Chevrolet Suburban – fondly called 'Burb' by its fans –
truly became the forefather of the SÚV (sports utility vehicle)
and the darling of all off-road enthusiasts, even though nobody
actually called it so. Two years previously, GM had, for the first time,
installed a V8 under the powerful hood and thus provided the pulling
power that was lacking in the ageing straight six.

In total,
several million Suburbans (including its close relatives like the
somewhat shorter Tahoe) have so far been built. With the new Captiva,
Chevrolet will for the first time apply
its crossover success formula to Europe: Compact and wîth a
self-supporting body, but just as versatile, spacious and comfortable as
the original.

Chevrolet Suburban At 75: A Historical Look At An American Icon

In
1935, the 'United States' population was a little more than 127 million.
A first-class stamp cost three cents, Technicolor was introduced to
motion pictures and the Detroit Tigers defeated the Chicago Cubs in a
tough World Series. It was also the year Chevrolet introduced the
Suburban.

In the seven and a half decades since its introduction, the Suburban became an icon and the
industry's longest-running model. In fact, Suburban is the first vehicle
to reach 75 years of production and Chevrolet is commemorating the
milestone with a special 2010 75th Anniversary Diamond Edition model.

'Times have changed, but the Suburban remains a fixture in the
industry for private and professional customers who need truck-like
towing capability with maximum passenger and cargo space,' said Jim
Campbell, Chevrolet general manager. 'The Suburban's core capabilities
and dependability have remained constant for more than seven decades and
generations of people know that a Suburban will haul people and their
gear.'

The original Suburban could seat eight, while easily
removable seats provided a large, 75-inch-long by 77-inch-high (1,905 x
1,956 mm) cargo area. The 2010 Suburban seats up to nine, but offers up
to 137.4 cubic feet (3,891 L) of cargo space when the second-row seats
are folded and third-row seats are removed.

History of an icon
The
idea for the Suburban was born out of a need for a heavier-duty,
truck-based wagon. Through the early 1930's, most manufacturers offered
car-based wagons for professional use. Open models with windows and rear
seating were known as depot hacks, and were used to ferry passengers
and their cargo around train stations and boat docks. Enclosed models,
typically without rear seats, were known as sedan deliveries.

Bodywork
for these early vehicles often consisted of wood sides and canvas tops;
and while they were versatile, their car-based chassis and damage-prone
bodies were compromises. Chevrolet began experimenting with an
all-steel wagon body mounted on a commercial chassis in the mid-1930's,
and the Suburban Carryall was launched in 1935.

The base
price of the original, eight-passenger Suburban was about $675, or the
equivalent of about $10,900 in 2010 dollars – although the 1935 model
didn't come with frontal and side air bags,
OnStar, XM Satellite Radio, anti-lock brakes and stability control, a
six-speed automatic transmission or remote keyless entry. In fact, a
radio, heater, clock and even a rear bumper were extra-cost options. It
might well have been called a sport utilitarian vehicle.

After
the Suburban's introduction, car-based commercial vehicles, including
sedan deliveries, remained in production, but the heavy-duty chassis of
the Suburban increasingly found favor with professional customers. In
the post-World War II years, its popularity with private customers who
appreciated its uncompromising capabilities increased steadily.

The Chevrolet Suburban hit the mainstream in the early 1990's, with the overall popularity of sport-utility vehicles.
But while many customers were new to the Suburban then, it had garnered
a legion of longtime owners who had purchased multiple examples over
the years – using them to haul Little League teams and their equipment,
tow a horse trailer or seat a work crew on the way to a job site.

Driving
a 1998 Subaru wagon with 205 thousand miles on it doesn’t put me in a
hurry to get anywhere. I find keeping a lackadaisical throttle foot to
be an effective survival technique, designed to milk every remaining
mile out my noble Japanese steed. It’s also indicative of my
thrift-artist financial situation, which as it stands requires I shop
religiously at Costco as if it were a giant welfare box store.

If
I need groceries, I go to Costco. If I need a shirt, I go to Costco. If
I need tires, I go to Discount Tire; Costco’s nitrogen-filled tires
scare me. But that doesn’t affect my general complacency when tooling
around a Costco parking lot to find a vacant space, nor does it negate
my outrage at the affront to my dignity that took place there recently.

As
I’ve established, Costco is a pillar of my life. You know the Kirkland
Signature brand of everything Costco sells? That’s a product of my
hometown - Kirkland, Washington; I practically invented that crap
myself.

Still, I don’t roll into a Costco parking lot expecting to
be treated as royalty, much less find a parking space anywhere near the
front entrance. Even if I did, I would still park a half-mile away in
the back of the lot, just to avoid the ravenous crazy people who think
if they cheat a walk by parking in a front row stall they won’t have to
spend forty-five minutes PUSHING AN OVERSIZED SHOPPING CART AROUND A
WAREHOUSE.

But I’m used to these lost souls stopping their cars
directly in the flow of traffic, sometimes with their blinkers on,
waiting patiently for another shopper to unload two months’ worth of
groceries into their vehicle. It doesn’t bother me at all – I just drive
around.

And then one day it happened. Never, ever in my tenure as
a Costco Gold Star member have I seen the parking space sloppy-seconds
maneuver performed in tandem by a duo of able-bodied shoppers. But there
it was, splayed out before my front bumper: Two cars, facing the same
direction, each waiting for a parking spot on opposite sides of the
aisle.

They were completely blocking the lot’s entryway traffic in both directions.

The
calm inside me began to bend, rapidly losing its elasticity. I couldn’t
back up to avoid the obstruction. A line of cars had formed behind me. A
minute passed… a minute and a half. It was already too much. What in
the hell were the rest of us supposed to do? We were being held hostage
by these louts!

I tooted my horn just long enough to emphasize a
moderate degree of frustration. The lady holding up the left of the
blockade turned on her blinker and pointed out her window to identify
the spot she was waiting for, as if all of us had mistakenly assumed she
was stopping up rush-hour traffic back to the Costco gas station for no
good reason.

I don’t do road rage. What happened next was going
to be a vigilante display of social justice that couldn’t be stopped or
reasoned with.

Any man worth his Costco card knows the corners of
his car like a cat knows its whiskers extend to the width of its body.
By the looks of the terrible scene, there would be just enough room to
squeeze my Subaru between the vulture lady’s car on the right and the
rear bumper of the vehicle being loaded with a Kirkland Signature bounty
on the left. Whether my roof-rack would clear the underside of the open
hatch was up for grabs. Cats don’t have whiskers on top of their heads.

I
inched through the opening, making sure to alleviate the uncomfortable
tension of the pass by pointing through my windshield at where I
intended to go. And it was done. Someone with a car that could easily be
totaled from a minor fender bender had taken a stand against a bully,
one who thought putting every Costco shopper in the greater downtown
Seattle area behind her own convenience was her right for paying a $55
membership fee.

She might not have learned a lesson from my livid
close quarters roll-by, but at the very least her arrogance was
challenged by that of another. If she didn’t appreciate the gesture I
hope she stopped to wonder why.